Suspect in 2007 beheading of Marines arrested in Basilan—police

MANILA, Philippines – A suspect tagged in the beheading of Philippine Marine officers in 2007, among others, was arrested in Isabela City early Tuesday, a Philippine National Police spokesman said.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that Abdulpattah Ismael, alias Patah Hamjak, was arrested by operatives of Joint Task Force ZAMBAS, Zamboanga police, and Special Action Force troops in Barangay (village) Riverside, Isabela City, Basilan around 1:40 a.m.

He said Ismael was involved in the 2007 beheading of 10 Marine soldiers in Al Barka, Basilan province and was also behind the 2009 Basilan jailbreak to free Dan Laksaw Asnawi, a sub-commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 114th Base Command.

Cruz Jr. also said that Ismael was involved in a foiled kidnapping in Sangali, Zamboanga City and the 2010 MILF attack in Isabela City.